Sky is the limit for Superman Dwight
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AP
OluÅŸturulma Tarihi: Åžubat 19, 2009 00:00
ORLANDO, Florida - Dwight Howard proved why he has been called Superman or a monster.
The Orlando Magic center had a career-high 45 points, to go with 19 rebounds and eight blocks to lead his team to a 107-102 overtime victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday.Â
The Magic got 17 points from Rashard Lewis, who joined Howard on the Eastern Conference All-Star team last weekend. Turkish forward Hidayet "Hedo" Türkoğlu produced 13 points.
It was the 18th consecutive double-double for Howard, tying Shaquille O'Neal's franchise record.
J.J. Redick made a 3-pointer with eight seconds left in regulation to tie it and Raymond Felton missed a jumper as time expired.
Boris Diaw made a lay-up over Howard with 20 seconds remaining and Raja Bell made two free throws for a 95-92 lead before Redick's tying shot.
"Dwight was unbelievable, unbelievable,'' Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I mean phenomenal. He just put us on his back. That's leadership right there, that kind of play on the floor. It kept everyone else motivated.''
Since the NBA started recording blocked shots for the 1973-74 season, no NBA player ever has had this many points, rebounds and blocks in the same game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
"Today, he had his way,'' Charlotte center Emeka Okafor said. "I have to tip my hat to him. He had a great game. He just dominated.''
The Magic took an early lead in overtime, and never let it go. Redick hit a free throw for the 105-102 lead. Courtney Lee added two more to clinch the victory. "We really needed this game off the break,'' Howard said. "When my teammates see me bringing it at both ends every night, they will do the same. I have to start everything at both ends.''
Elsewhere, Leandro Barbosa scored 24 points and Amare Stoudemire added 23 as the Suns demolished the Los Angeles Clippers 140-100 in Alvin Gentry's debut as interim Phoenix coach. Reverting to its favored up-tempo style, Phoenix (29-23) raced to an 81-49 halftime lead and coasted from there.
The Magic got 17 points from Rashard Lewis, who joined Howard on the Eastern Conference All-Star team last weekend. Turkish forward Hidayet "Hedo" Türkoğlu produced 13 points.
It was the 18th consecutive double-double for Howard, tying Shaquille O'Neal's franchise record.
J.J. Redick made a 3-pointer with eight seconds left in regulation to tie it and Raymond Felton missed a jumper as time expired.
Boris Diaw made a lay-up over Howard with 20 seconds remaining and Raja Bell made two free throws for a 95-92 lead before Redick's tying shot.
"Dwight was unbelievable, unbelievable,'' Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I mean phenomenal. He just put us on his back. That's leadership right there, that kind of play on the floor. It kept everyone else motivated.''
Since the NBA started recording blocked shots for the 1973-74 season, no NBA player ever has had this many points, rebounds and blocks in the same game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
"Today, he had his way,'' Charlotte center Emeka Okafor said. "I have to tip my hat to him. He had a great game. He just dominated.''
The Magic took an early lead in overtime, and never let it go. Redick hit a free throw for the 105-102 lead. Courtney Lee added two more to clinch the victory. "We really needed this game off the break,'' Howard said. "When my teammates see me bringing it at both ends every night, they will do the same. I have to start everything at both ends.''
Elsewhere, Leandro Barbosa scored 24 points and Amare Stoudemire added 23 as the Suns demolished the Los Angeles Clippers 140-100 in Alvin Gentry's debut as interim Phoenix coach. Reverting to its favored up-tempo style, Phoenix (29-23) raced to an 81-49 halftime lead and coasted from there.